HOUSE 3rd Reading Unamended May 4, 2016 HOUSE Amended 2nd Reading May 3, 2016Second Regular Session Seventieth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 16-0110.01 Jane Ritter x4342 HOUSE BILL 16-1036 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Salazar, SENATE SPONSORSHIP Ulibarri, House Committees Senate Committees Education Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning teaching civil government in public schools, including the history, culture, and contributions of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The bill mandates funding instruction in public schools of history and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including but not limited to the history, culture, and contributions of the American Indians, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. Current law requires school districts to convene community forums to discuss the content standards in history and civil government at least once every 10 years. The bill requires the forums to be held at least every 2 years. The history, culture, and civil government in education commission is established to make recommendations to the state board of education when the state board performs the scheduled review of education standards in 2018 so those standards and programs accurately reflect the history, culture, and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including the contributions and influence of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 22-1-104 as follows: 22-1-104. Teaching of history, culture, and civil government. (1) The history and civil government of the state of Colorado shall be taught in all the public schools of this state. (2) In addition, (1) The history and civil government of the United States and of the state of Colorado, which includes the history, culture, and contributions of minorities, including, but not limited to, the American Indians, the Hispanic Americans, and the African Americans, shall and Asian Americans, must be taught in all the public schools of the state. (3) (a) (2) Satisfactory completion of a course on the civil government of the United States and the state of Colorado, which includes including the subjects described in subsection (2) subsection (1) of this section, shall be is a condition of high school graduation in the public schools of this state. (b) The condition of graduation described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) shall apply only to students entering their first year of high school on and after August 6, 2003. (4) (3) (a) In an effort to increase civic participation among young people, each school district board of education shall convene a community forum on a periodic basis, but not less than once every ten three years, for all interested persons to discuss adopted content standards in civics, including the subjects described in subsection (2) subsection (1) of this section. The history, culture, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3 shall actively participate in any such forums. (b) Based upon input from this community forum, each school district board of education shall determine how the subject areas specified in subsection (1) of this section are addressed when establishing graduation requirements. (5) (4) (a) In an effort to strengthen the teaching of the history, culture, and civil government of the state of Colorado and of the United States in all public schools of the state in accordance with the requirements of this section, the department of education, in conjunction with the history, culture, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3, shall assist the school districts of the state in developing and promoting programs for elementary and secondary students that engage the students in the process of discovery and interpretation of historical topics the subjects and topics set forth in subsection (1) of this section. (b) The department of education is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and donations in furtherance of the objectives specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (5) subsection (4). (c) It is the intent of the general assembly that the objectives specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (5) subsection (4) are to be funded through the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution. The general assembly hereby finds that the development, promotion, and maintenance by the school districts of the state of programs for elementary and secondary students that engage such students in the process of discovery and interpretation of historical topics the subjects and topics set forth in subsection (1) of this section assists these students in meeting state academic standards and may therefore be funded from moneys in the state education fund. (6) (5) (a) In an effort to strengthen the teaching of civic education history, culture, and civil government, as described in subsection (1) of this section, in all public schools of the state in accordance with the requirements of this section, the department of education, in conjunction with the history, culture, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3, shall assist the school districts of the state in developing and promoting programs for elementary and secondary students that address the state model content standards for civics and promote best practices in civic education while also addressing the subjects and topics described in subsection (1) of this section. (b) It is the intent of the general assembly that the objectives specified in this subsection (6) subsection (5) are to be funded through the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution. The general assembly hereby finds that the development, promotion, and maintenance by the school districts of the state of programs for elementary and secondary students that address the state model content standards for civics and promote best practices in civic education while addressing the subjects and topics described in subsection (1) of this section assist these students in meeting state academic standards and may therefore be funded from moneys in the state education fund. (6) The state board of education shall take into consideration any recommendations of the history, culture, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3 when performing its six-year review of the state's education standards pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (6). SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-104.3 as follows: 22-1-104.3. History, culture, and civil government in education commission - established - membership - duties. (1) There is established the history, culture, and civil government in education commission, referred to in this section as the "commission". The purpose of the commission is to make recommendations to the state board of education and department of education to be used in conjunction with the regular six-year review of the state's education standards and programs, pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (6). The recommendations must seek to further the discovery, interpretation, and learning of the history, culture, and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including the contributions of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. The commission shall work cooperatively and in conjunction with the department of education and local school boards of education as described in section 22-1-104. (2) (a) The membership of the commission consists of fifteen members and, to the extent practicable, must include persons from throughout the state and persons with disabilities and must reflect the ethnic diversity of the state. A majority of the commission members must have either classroom experience or experience in developing education content standards. The membership of the commission is as follows: (I) Two members from the American Indian community; (II) Two members from the Latino community; (III) Two members from the African American community; (IV) Two members from the Asian American community; (V) One member who represents an educators' union; (VI) One member from an organization that represents either school superintendents or local school boards; (VII) Two members representing higher education. One member must represent a large state institution of higher education, and one member must represent a smaller state institution of higher education. (VIII) Two members from the department of education, as designated by the commissioner of education, who are nonvoting members; and (IX) The president of the state historical society, established in part 2 of article 80 of title 24, C.R.S., or his or her designee, who is a nonvoting member. (b) On or before August 15, 2016, the governor shall appoint, through the office of boards and commissions, the members of the commission using the criteria set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2). (3) Commission members shall serve for terms of four years; except that, of the members first appointed, two members appointed pursuant to each of subparagraphs (I), (II), and (III) of paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section and one member appointed pursuant to subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section, as designated by the governor, through the office of boards and commissions, shall serve initial terms of two years. The governor, through the office of boards and commissions, shall fill any vacancies on the commission for the remainder of any unexpired term. (4) Beginning September 2016, the commission shall meet a minimum of two times per year and additionally as needed in conjunction with the community forums established in section 22-1-104. (5) Commission members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1005, amend (6) as follows: 22-7-1005. Preschool through elementary and secondary education - aligned standards - adoption - revisions. (6) On or before July 1, 2018, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, the state board shall review and adopt any appropriate revisions to the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section. In adopting revisions, the state board may add or delete one or more of the specific instructional areas based on the needs of the state and changes in national and international academic expectations. In adopting revisions to the standards pursuant to this subsection (6), the state board shall ensure that the standards continue to meet the requirements specified in subsection (3) of this section. In adopting revisions to the standards related to civil government, the state board shall take into consideration any recommendations provided by the history, culture, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3. SECTION 4. Appropriation. For the 2016-17 state fiscal year, $25,850 is appropriated to the department of education. This appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the department may use this appropriation for preschool to postsecondary education alignment. SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.